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Obama nominates Elena Kagan for Supreme Court

by Ben Feller | AP

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U.S. President Barack Obama (C) is joined by Vice President Joe Biden (L) while introducing Solicitor General Elena Kagan as his choice to be the nation's 112th Supreme Court justice during an event in the East Room of the White House May 10, 2010 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images

President Barack Obama on Monday nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, declaring she would demonstrate the same independence, integrity and passion for the law exhibited by retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.

If confirmed by the Senate, Kagan would become the third woman on the high court. Obama introduced her in the White House East Room as "my friend."

The former Harvard Law School dean "is widely regarded as one of the nation's foremost legal minds," Obama said.

Kagan, 50, said she was "honored and humbled by this nomination." She called it "the honor of a lifetime."

"I look forward to working with the Senate and thank you, Mr. President, for this honor of a lifetime."

Obama cited what he called Kagan's "openness to a broad array of viewpoints" and her "fair mindedness."

In a statement issued before Kagan had completed her remarks, the lawmaker who will preside over her confirmation hearing, Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, said, "The Senate should confirm Ms. Kagan before" Labor Day.

"Our constituents deserve a civil and thoughtful debate on this nomination, followed by an up-or-down vote," he said.

The Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said his party would make sure there was a "thorough process, not a rush to judgment" on the nomination.

"Judges must not be a rubber-stamp for any administration. Judges must not walk into court with a preconceived idea of who should win," he said, adding that Republicans would have a vigorous debate on that principle.